When black sea bass are off Wachapreague
Black sea bass fishing out of Wachapreague starts in early May, when wreck fishing and deep dropping open up. Boats running out of Wachapreague on Virginia’s Eastern Shore work two bands of water: 6 to 14 miles out for wrecks and bottom structure, and far offshore for deep drops. The sections below cover the run from Wachapreague Inlet, the named grounds and depths, how the fish are worked, and who runs for them. For biology and general behavior, see our black sea bass guide. For the wider coast, see the black sea bass fishing in the Atlantic Northeast and the Atlantic Northeast offshore fishing guide.
Early May
Wreck fishing and deep dropping both start in early May, according to the Teaser Sportfishing and Wachapreague Inn charter pages. The shared start date covers two different trips, the nearshore wrecks and the long deep-drop run, and which one you choose determines how far you need to go.
How far boats run from Wachapreague Inlet
Every distance here is measured from Wachapreague Inlet. Use the charter run times as a benchmark, and compare your own boat’s cruise speed and fuel burn against them before you plot waypoints.
| Run | Distance or time from the inlet |
|---|---|
| Wrecks and bottom structure | 6 to 14 miles |
| Parramore Reef | about 9 miles |
| Teaser deep-drop trips | 2.5 to 3 hours |
| Canyons | about 50 miles |
Nearshore wrecks, 6 to 14 miles
Wrecks and bottom structure sit 6 to 14 miles off Wachapreague, which is day-trip range for a private console.
Parramore Reef run
Parramore Reef is about nine miles from the inlet, inside the 6 to 14 mile band and a short run by the standards of this port.
Deep-drop runs
Teaser’s deep-drop trips run 2.5 to 3 hours, and the canyons are about 50 miles from the inlet. Check your boat’s range against both numbers before you commit.
Grounds and structure that hold sea bass
The list below runs from near to far. Blank cells are positions we do not print.
| Ground | Depth | Distance from inlet |
|---|---|---|
| Wachapreague Reef | 45 ft | |
| Parramore Reef | about 55 ft (40 to 55 ft per VMRC) | about 9 mi |
| Lumpy Bottom | ||
| The Crotch | ||
| Sam’s Hill | ||
| 21 Mile Hill | ||
| 26 Mile Hill | ||
| Washington Canyon | about 50 mi (canyons) |
For how reef and wreck fishing works in general, see our reef fish guides. These structure positions appear on the Breakpoint chart under Chart Contours. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Parramore Reef
Parramore Reef sits about nine miles from the inlet in 40 to 55 feet of water, per VMRC. The deep end is about 55 ft.
Wachapreague Reef
Wachapreague Reef holds 45 ft of water.
Lumpy Bottom, The Crotch and Sam’s Hill
Lumpy Bottom, The Crotch and Sam’s Hill are local bottom structure off Wachapreague.
21 and 26 Mile Hills
21 Mile Hill and 26 Mile Hill lie off Wachapreague, per Salt Water Sportsman.
Washington Canyon
Washington Canyon is the long-range ground, with the canyons about 50 miles from Wachapreague Inlet. It belongs to the deep-drop fishery.
How sea bass are fished out of Wachapreague
Local fishing splits by distance. Wreck and bottom fishing covers the near grounds, and deep dropping covers the far ones.
Wreck and bottom fishing
Wreck and bottom fishing is the local method on the 6 to 14 mile structure and the reefs. Anglers set up on the structure itself: wrecks, reef edges and hard bottom.
Deep dropping with tilefish
Offshore, sea bass are caught by deep dropping, combined with tilefish. Teaser’s deep-drop trips run 2.5 to 3 hours each way, which is the benchmark for planning this kind of trip.
Who runs for them
Two local operators list black sea bass:
- Teaser Sportfishing’s Wachapreague page lists black sea bass.
- Wachapreague Inn DayTrippers trips lists black sea bass.
Their run times are a useful yardstick for your own boat.
Reading conditions
The local station is NOAA CO-OPS tide station 8631044, Wachapreague Channel (NDBC WAHV2, 37.608N 75.686W). Check NOAA station WAHV2 data before you run the inlet.
FAQ: black sea bass out of Wachapreague
When does black sea bass fishing out of Wachapreague start?
It starts in early May, when wreck fishing and deep dropping open up, according to the local charters. The same start applies to the nearshore wrecks and the long-range deep-drop trips.
How far is Parramore Reef from Wachapreague Inlet?
Parramore Reef is about a 9-mile run from the inlet, inside the 6 to 14 mile band where wrecks and bottom structure sit off Wachapreague.
How deep are Parramore Reef and Wachapreague Reef?
Parramore Reef runs 40 to 55 ft per VMRC, with about 55 ft as the deep end. Wachapreague Reef is 45 ft. Both are nearshore reef grounds within a short run of the inlet.
How long are deep-drop runs from Wachapreague?
Teaser’s deep-drop trips run 2.5 to 3 hours and combine black sea bass with tilefish. Compare that run time with your own boat’s speed and range.
How far are the canyons from Wachapreague Inlet?
The canyons are about 50 miles from the inlet, and Washington Canyon is the named ground. Compare that distance with your boat’s range and fuel burn before you plan the trip.
Where can I read tide data for Wachapreague?
Use NOAA CO-OPS station 8631044, Wachapreague Channel (NDBC WAHV2). Check its readings before you run the inlet.
